Wexford name unchanged side for quarter-final
Wexford manager John Meyler has named the same team for Saturday's rescheduled All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Tipperary (Croke Park, throw-in 2pm), as he did for last weekend's postponed tie.
That means a total of three changes to the side that started the Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny. There are recalls for Rory McCarthy, Mitch Jordan and Barry Lambert with Ciaran Kenny, David O'Connor and the axed Nigel Higgins the three players to make way.
2007 captain Higgins was dropped from the panel earlier this month for turning up late for a training session.
The Models will line out with a new midfield partnership on Saturday, with McCarthy joining Darren Stamp in centre-field and Diarmuid Lyng and Eoin Quigley moving to different positions. McCarthy will be making his first start of the 2007 championship.
Jordan will lead the attack on the '40' and Lambert, who hit the match-winning point in last month's win over Dublin, comes in at right corner forward to join the Jacob brothers, Michael and Rory, in the full-forward line.
Wexford, who lost by 15 points to Kilkenny in the recent Leinster final, will have veteran goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry as their captain this weekend. Saturday's game will see the 33-year-old net minder making his 165th and possibly final appearance for his county.
The recalled McCarthy and Fitzhenry are Wexford's last remaining links with their famed 1996 All-Ireland winning side.
Declan Ruth has been restored to his more familiar centre-back position after Henry Shefflin gave him a torrid time at full-back in the Leinster final. In a direct swap, Keith Rossiter takes over at number 3.
Wexford have a poor championship record against Tipperary - they are seeking their first championship win over Tipp since 1968 and their third victory in all in ten meetings.
In their four All-Ireland quarter-final appearances since 2001, Wexford have won two and lost two of their last-eight matches. They were winners over Limerick (2001) and Antrim (2003) but Clare ended the Models' championship chances in both 2005 and 2006.
WEXFORD (SHC v Tipperary) - D Fitzhenry (capt); M Travers, K Rossiter, P Roche; R Kehoe, D Ruth, D Lyng; D Stamp, R McCarthy; E Quigley, M Jordan, S Nolan; B Lambert, M Jacob, R Jacob.
